The pounding continued. "Tatum, it's me, open up!" I heard Parkershout.
Dean stilled. "Is that theasshole?"
I tried hard to shout through my covered mouth, but it was no good. I heard Parker bang on the door again and call my name one more time before everything went silent. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears, and I felt as if I couldfaint.
Dean looked down at me. "No one is coming to save you. Now, I'm going to remove my hand from your mouth. I don't want to hear a fucking thing out of you. If I do, I promise you will regretit."
He slowly released his hand from my mouth, and I felt him get off the bed. He grabbed me under the knees and pulled me down to the edge of the bed and forced his body between my thighs. Crying, I felt his hand slide my bathing suit bottom to the side. He was about to undo his zipper when the sound of heavy footsteps came charging into theroom.
"Get the fuck offher!"
Dean released his hold on me at the sound of Parker’s voice, and I quickly sat up, trying to cover myself. I watched as Parker grabbed him by shoulder and punched him in the stomach. Dean doubled over, and Parker forced him down to the ground. He pulled a pair of cuffs from his back pocket and cuffed his hands, and then grabbed another pair for his feet. He stood towering overhim.
Parker looked to me and grabbed the blanket off the bottom of the bed and wrapped it around my shaking body. He picked me up and took me out to the couch and sat me down. Tears poured down my face. Thank God, he had comeback.
He went back into the bedroom and came out with some clothes for me then shut the bedroom door, leaving Dean on the floor. Sitting down beside me, he pulled me onto his lap and pulled me into his strong, protective embrace. I began to relax into his body, and off in the distance, I heard sirensblaring.
Dean had been arrested. Parkerhad tried to call Elliott and Jen on the way to the station but couldn’t get an answer. I sat in a quiet room in the police station wrapped in the blanket from Parker's truck. One of the female officers had gotten me a hot cup of tea, but it had done little to warm me up. I had already spoken to the sergeant, and I was now waiting for Parker to finish up withhim.
I sat there, my hands wrapped around the paper cup, trying to gather and hold any heat I could. I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes. The door creaked open, causing me to jump. Parker walked in and took a seat across from me. He placed his hands on mythighs.
"Are you going to beokay?"
I looked down at the floor to hide my face from him. It was easier to lie to him that way. I shook my head yes and took another sip of the hottea.
"Harrison." The sergeant poked his head in the door. "You can take Tatum home now. If we need anything else, we'llcall."
I looked to Parker. I was too terrified of being alone in my house after all of this. He held out his hand to me, and I reached out to grasp it. I stood up as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him, walking me slowly out of theroom.
"He can't get out, can he?" Panic arose in mychest.
"Well, not right now. He’ll need to see a judge before bail can be set. No worries. We will be notified if the time comes that he is released," Parker spoke in a hushedvoice.
“But if he gets out, he will find me, Parker. He will come forme.”
He pulled me into him tighter and urged me forward with his hand on the small of my back. "Let's not worry about that right now, Tatum. We are going to get home and get somerest."
“Parker, I don’t want to gohome.”
“Baby, you’re coming home with me. I won’t let anything happen toyou.”
"Harrison, if she needs help with this, you let us know. I have explained to her there is counseling that we can arrange forher."
Parker nodded and guided me out the station door. We were walking down the front steps when we heard our names being called and turned to see Elliott and Jen rushingover.
Elliott grabbed me and wrapped his arms around me. "My God, Tatum, are youokay?"
I nodded, hugging him back. I could feel that familiar burn in my eyes but refused to give in to thetears.
As soon as Elliott let me go, Jen stepped in to hug me. "I should have come back with you. This wouldn't havehappened."
"No, it could have been worse. It’s okay. I'm fine. It's late, guys. I just want to get some sleep." I didn't want them to make a big deal overthis.
"Well, I'm going to come home with you. I don't want you to be alone," Jen finished, looking toElliott.
"The house is still under evidence review," Parker remindedher.
"You can come back to my place, stay with Jen and I. Parker, you as well if you want,” Elliott said, nodding atJen.